Cryptic Warnings (Patreon)

 Once again Luna’s Royal Canterlot voice echoed through the mountains in my Equestria dreamscape. 

  “HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF SUCH RECKLESS SLAUGHTER!” 

  “Oh I don’t accuse you.” Bent Horn stared at the Luna with a smug smile on her face. “It’s true. What? You didn’t know? Well Luna let me impart some wisdom to you. Next time you need to smite some naughty dragon just use one falling star. Three was really unnecessary for Flame Hide. In fact it made it rather hard for me to find any piece of his body large enough to bring back to the council to prove the worthless lizard was dead! But it did have the unexpected benefit of wiping out large part of my opposition. You see just on the other side of the Dartus mountain range Flame Hide had assembled his main forces. Once Fort Shield had fell they would’ve poured through the gap in Equestria’s front line and then fanned out across the land bringing death and fire to ponies everywhere!” 

  Bent Horn giggled. “But you dear Luna undid his strategy and did not even realize it! You see one of your fiery balls of celestial fury landed right on top of them! Whoosh! In one fell swoop you annihilated a force of over two hundred minor dragons and drakes. All that remains of them now is a vast field charred bones. If you doubt my claims I can arrange a little visit for you and your sister. We can make a day of it and have a, hmmm, what’s that word you ponies like to use? Picnic! We can have a nice little picnic there! ” 

  “So now thanks to your actions a destabilizing threat to the Council of Dragons has been removed, and certain rebellious, undesirable branches of dragon society have been pruned so this summer when the migration occurs only those who can behave themselves and follow orders will make the journey.  Your subjects will not be bothered by our passage and you two can go about taking care of other matters of state. Win-win from my viewpoint!” 

  Luna remained still but she was shivering with rage. With slow, deliberately chosen words she spoke. “I, don’t, like, you!” 

  
  Bent Horn shrugged her shoulders. “And I am not very fond of ponies, but that doesn’t mean one can not find a use for them or have them for neighbors. One does not have to like someone to work with them.” 

  
  “And what if we decided to block your migration or just decided take you out right here and now!  What of that Bent Horn?” Celestia’s voice hissed and crackled as a slow, steady hum began to emanate from her. Black Horns suddenly tensed and crouched as if preparing to pounce. 

  
  Bent Horn casually raised her left paw. “Stay Black Horns. Celestia I will not lie you might be able to strike Black Horns and I down here and now, but if you do that you’ll unleash a war amongst dragons and ponies that will make last winters folly look like scuffle amongst foals. Yes in the end you and your subjects would probably prevail but at a horrible price. Do you want that blood on your hoofs? You may despise me but I am the best dragon for continuing stable relationships between our realms. There have been several times in the last thousand years that I have chose not to strike Equestria, even when you Celestia were in a weakened and vulnerable position. It was I who steered the council away from striking when you were wallowing in despair from having to send your little sister to the moon for a thousand years. So Celestia, Princess of Sun, Co-ruler of Equestria what do you say to that?” 

  Celestia glared Bent Horn but the high-power line hum subsided. “I agree with Luna. I don’t like you but I must not let my own personal feelings be the sole means to ruling our kingdom. Your subjects may migrate through Equestria this summer and we will accept your reparations. Now Luna and I have other matters to attend to. These talks are over.” 

  Bent Horn reared back onto her back legs and raised her both her front legs in a theatrical fashion and smiled at the Royal Sisters. “Now, I know we are hardly on friendly relations but I wish to offer you one final bit information. Think of it as both a parting gift and a mystery to solve if you will.” The bronze dragon paused for dramatic effect. “You may remember that one of the excuses that Flame Hide used for starting this conflict was the accusation that ponies were illegally crossing our borders and intruding into our realm. Well this was partially true.” 

   
  “Our patrols did observe pegasi crossing our borders on several occasions but were never able to intercept them until recently when a patrol was able to follow a group of them to a cave without alarming their target. Then they attacked the intruders when they were trapped in their hideout.  The battle was victorious for our side but unfortunately all of the intruders were killed. Much to the patrols surprise the intruders turned out to not be ponies after all, but something else, something that has not been seen in this world in over a thousand years. Something that has existed only in the ancient tales of dragon lore. Something that has taken a great interest in ponies and Equestria, for the intruders had collected a vast trove of information about your precious kingdom.” 

  “Now fortunately the leader in charge of the patrol is very loyal to me and he collected everything from the cave including the bodies and delivered them into my possession without informing anyone else on the council.  I have pored over the contents of their journals that fortunately were written in your native tongue. Apparently the intruders have become very fluent in your language. Also they had vast collections clippings from of those daily documents you ponies call newspapers.” 

  Bent Horn smiled at Celestia. “Apparently these intruders have taken a keen interest in pony wedding customs. In particular one upcoming wedding.” Bent Horn chuckled to herself. “You might want to tell Princess Cadence and her groom Shining Armor to watch out. Someone or something might try to crash the party!” 

  “Who are they Bent Horn? What do they plan to do?” Asked Celestia. 

  “If told you that would spoil the mystery!” Laughed the bronze-green matriarch of the council. “Now if you excuse will me I to have other matters to attend to!” 

  Then without another word Bent Horn and Black Horns launched themselves into the afternoon sky. The thunderous claps of their wings drowned out the shouts of the princesses for further information and a cloud of dust and gravel engulfed the Royal Sisters. With surprising speed the two great dragons flew off into the bright cobalt blue sky. 

  
  Silence once again reigned on the mountain slope. Slowly the dust subsided. After a minute or so the two sisters dropped their quickly erected force bubbles and watched the two dragons vanish over the mountain peak. Luna was tempted to pursue the two but knew that would involve illegally crossing the border into the Realm of Dragons, which would only play into Bent Horn’s favor. 

  
  For several minutes the two sisters stood silently, then Luna spoke. “Tia, do you believe that last bit of information, or do you think Bent Horn was lying?” 

  Celestia shook her head. “No Luna I do not believe she was lying. Bent Horn almost never lies outright. Omit telling you something yes, distort the meaning of one’s words most certainly. But she doesn’t lie outright for the truth can be a much crueler weapon.” Celestia sighed; this was one of those moments when she actually felt old. “Let’s get back to the palace we have much to discuss and plan.” 

  Then in a blink they vanished leaving the obelisk there to carry on its lonely watch. 

 To be continued.